Opinions on Specsavers please

lindos90

nedmundo wrote: »

Legally, they have to ensure that you have an up to date eye exam prescription. If you were to produce the prescription, most Opticians would be satisfied at that.

Thats what I would have hoped, so I will try that, if they still insist I have one with them, I could always price up contact lenses somewhere else!;)

My experience with specsavers has varied over the years, Ive stayed with them as they seem quite good value for money compaired to other places, They have tended to 'push' new/more expensive lenses and solutions during CL checkups which makes the checkup feel more like a marketing oportunity than focusing on the condition of my eyes.

Over the years ive had eye tests with them, they tell me my prescription has gone up, down and up again, and down again quite significantly, where as my contact lense prescription steadily went up in the early days, and have been exactly the same prescription for about 4 years.

When Ive had glasses made up based on their prescriptions they have rarely felt right, but perhaps thats because I wear contacts most of the time, and only wear glasses to give my eyes a rest, and it can take time to adjust to new glasses.

Tends to depend on how experienced the person is whos doing the test as to how thorough/accurate it is.

Having said that, my mum had massive problems with a pair from Boots, and went back unpteen times over a 12 month period, in the end they admitted that the lenses had been put in the wrong sides, (ie left lense put in the right side and visa versa)

By this time she was due for another eye test and they had the cheek to charge her for the new pair as the prescription was slightly different!! No apology, no 'discrtionary discount' (She only tells me this well after the event, or I would have complained on her behalf)

So in response to the OP, its very difficult to say which company is best overall, as it depends on the store, the person doing the test and the person making the glasses!

Igol

I think its down to the local branch.
Mines always been fine with me. A few years back I was in charge of referrals for an Ophthamologist at the local hospital, the local SS seemed to refer more than there fair share and impressed the consultant a few times spotting conditions quite early on.

pollypenny

I have always found our local Specsavers to be very good. In fact, I called there yesterday to have my nose pads adjusted and the assistant suggested changing them for larger, softer pads.

I think they offer very good value, too' especially if you wear specs all the time and want a wardrobe of glasses (like Anne Robinson)

**dancingbutterfly**

i work for an independant opticians and the amount of patients we get that have left ss, dollond and aitchison, vision express that are very upset with their treatment is staggering! but that may just be our area!
we are a little more expensive than these practises however our service is 2nd to none! i suggest you use an independant but as you say you have a high prescription one of the chains may be cheaper. however for prescriptions like yours there are other ways to get the lenses nice and thin, rather than paying £200 for super thin 1.74 index lenses. and only independant optician would help you out like that, i doubt a chain would!
hth!!

RAGSTORICHES

I have no complaints with the eye test or glasses but the waiting time at the Clacton branch is unacceptable.It is always packed out, firstly you have to queue to see the receptionist who is usually very busy talking to her friend.For me this immediately creates a problem as I have back problems and it makes no difference if your leaning on your stick wincing in pain they will not be rushed. They then send you to an area at back to take a seat obviously not realising the seats are already taken by many other angry customers who have been waiting there for ages.I waited an hour without anyone apologising for the delay.Next to me was an elderly disabled lady in a wheelchair with her carer she had been there longer than me. In the end we had to call someone over and they said shoudn't be too long we are busy today. Sorry would have helped.I understand it is always the same there so I wont be going back.Went in short sighted came out seeing red.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

**dancingbutterfly** wrote: »

i work for an independant opticians and the amount of patients we get that have left ss, dollond and aitchison, vision express that are very upset with their treatment is staggering! but that may just be our area!
we are a little more expensive than these practises however our service is 2nd to none! i suggest you use an independant but as you say you have a high prescription one of the chains may be cheaper. however for prescriptions like yours there are other ways to get the lenses nice and thin, rather than paying £200 for super thin 1.74 index lenses. and only independant optician would help you out like that, i doubt a chain would!
hth!!

It's an eye test & contact lenses I require. Fortunatly, my glasses are ok.

suki1964

Thing is no matter how good or bad SS are, they are still going to charge you for a contact lens check or sign you up for a yearly supply contract which has the cost of check ups factored in (even though they say they are free )

gozaimasu

I've never had contact lenses from Specsavers, but I don't like them. They messed up my prescriptions on more than one occasion and similarly didn't make up my glasses correctly. The staff always followed me around the store and never let me browse at my own pace.

I had contact lenses from D&A for a while. They gave me a fitting and told me to come back if I ever had any other problems, which I didn't. The staff were friendly and helpful enough but as usual, over-bearing sales person types who try their best to push a sale after you've had the eye test.

Recently had an eye-test with Vision Express which was fine, but the optician refused to give me my pupillary distance (apparently their head office tells them not to give it out) so now I'm going to have to chase that up if I want to order my glasses online. Aren't they legally supposed to provide that???

tidus

No, there is no legal requirement to issue your PD.
It is measured by the person who dispenses you spectacles, so they may not even have it to give you anyway. This is one of the problems with ordering online.

Greensox

I normally use Tesco opticians, have found them absolutely fine, and have never had problems with the glasses or contact lenses from them. So that's all hunky dory, now I spend half my year living in Scotland without a Tesco opticians near. I needed a contact lens check and an eye test before I could order more contact lenses so I decided to do to the best known in the area - Specsavers.

Firstly they didn't quite appreciate not knowing specifically whether I was going to buy lenses from them, I didn't specify. I had all the strange preliminary tests, which I've never had before! I go in for my sight test and they use this big machine instead of the glasses, I mean it's only been two years since I had it done! Times change! However I didn't feel the sight test went very well. I found I could barely read the letters on the board - and then the optician ended it there.

Then comes the contact lens check, which went without problem, until after it allI ask about getting my prescription. Now, before I even has these tests I asked the receptionist about getting a copy, she explained that I wold recieve my prescriptions anyway. NOw the optician leaves the room and comes back telling me that it would cost me £20 to get my precription. After some thought that night I realised this must be complete rubbish, because she had rung Tesco opticians and asked them for my prescription over the phone!! Anyway, so I check the website for Specsavers, look at the details about the Freedom of Information Act where I am entitled to a copy of ay details they have about me, a charge is only issued if I require more than one copy.

Unfortunately I don't feel I had good service here, I don't think my prescription will be correct and I certainly won't be going to Specsavers for anything in the future. Does anybody else recommend any other opticians?